The arrival of October is not just the welcoming of festivals, but also the winter season. If your face suddenly feels dull the second winter hits, you’re not imagining it. Cold air holds less humidity, turning the environment into a literal moisture sponge that extracts hydration straight out of your skin. But panicking and overloading on random heavy oils will only lead to clogged pores and breakouts.
Why Seasonal Skincare Upgrade Is Important?
During the monsoon, high humidity tends to leave skin sticky, with extra oil, sweat and congestion. Once the air dries out, the same skin can turn tight, rough and dehydrated. This is especially confusing for people with oily or combination skin, who often assume they should carry on with the products that suited them in the humid months.
7-Step Skincare Routine To Follow To Protect Your Skin During Seasonal Change
To cut through the seasonal noise, we asked a dermatologist, Dr Rinky Kapoor, Co- Founder/Director, The Esthetic Clinics and Dr Jyoti Tiwari, Medical Affairs Manager, Iberia Pharmaceuticals, for the ultimate, non-negotiable winter skincare routine to protect, calm, and nourish your skin barrier all winter long:
Step 1: Start With A Gentle Cleanser
Cleansing becomes more important at this time of year, given the dirt, oil and sweat that build up during long commutes and days spent outdoors.
What To Do: A gentle cleanser removes excess oil, sweat, sunscreen and other impurities without irritation. Ingredients like Rice Water work well in this space; traditionally used for its soothing, brightening effect on skin, it helps calm irritation while gently supporting a more even tone, which suits Indian skin dealing with this seasonal back-and-forth.
What Not To Do: But cleansing too often, or with harsh formulas, strips the skin.
The aim is to stay consistent while paying attention to what the skin actually needs. A seasonal adjustment does not mean changing the whole routine. It means making small changes to the products already in use.
Step 2: Never Skip Moisturiser
A common misconception is that staying hydrated means switching to rich, heavy creams. Hydration is really about helping skin hold on to a healthy balance of moisture, and the right texture depends on skin type and on how the skin responds to the weather.
Do This: On dry days, dry patches may appear around the cheeks, nose and mouth even when the rest of the face is oily. A good moisturiser can help with this. Often, it is simply a matter of adjusting the quantity of the moisturiser already being used.
Avoid This: Don’t overload your face with random heavy oils, which might clog your pores and cause breakouts.
Step 3: Use A Targeted Treatment If Needed
Ceramides are worth knowing about here, too; they help reinforce the skin's natural barrier and lock in moisture, which makes a real difference when skin is swinging between sticky monsoon days and dry, tight ones as the season turns.
Expert Insights: As per Dr Jyoti Tiwari, "how the skin feels is the best guide. Tightness, flaking or increased sensitivity are signs that the routine needs to be gentler. Sometimes that means cutting back on a product that may be causing unnecessary irritation."
Step 4: Apply Sunscreen
Sun protection should remain a daily habit through the festive season, even as the weather cools. A drop in temperature does not mean ultraviolet exposure goes away. For Indians dealing with pigmentation and uneven skin tone, applying sunscreen consistently is especially advisable.
Step 5: Exfoliate Carefully
Avoid This: There is no need to scrub or cleanse aggressively in an attempt to remove every trace of pollution. That only irritates the skin and leaves the barrier, its natural protective layer, feeling uncomfortable.
Do this: Exfoliate once a week in the evening and always follow up with a rich moisturiser.
Step 6: Give Your Skin Extra Care Before Festive Events
The winter season is also the arrival of festivals in India, which usually mean more time outdoors, more travel and more exposure to dust and pollution. Late nights, busy schedules and long hours in makeup put additional stress on the skin.
Do this: This is why the end-of-day cleanse deserves care. Makeup and sunscreen should be removed completely, using a cleanser suited to your skin type and a night cream as per your skin type does wonders.
Avoid This: Never sleep with makeup on.
Step 7: Less Is More
A seasonal reset does not mean starting from scratch. It means noticing how the skin feels as the weather changes. Is it drier than usual? A little more sensitive? More reactive? Are the products used all along still agreeing with it?
There is no need to bring in several new products or active ingredients at once. Making one small change at a time makes it easier to work out what the skin really needs, whether that is leaning on a calming ingredient like Rice Water on more reactive days, or a barrier-supporting one like Ceramides when dryness sets in.
What To Do: Start prepping your skin 2-3 weeks before the festive season and 1 week before; maintain the routine and avoid experimentation
What To Avoid: On the day of celebration, do not overload your skin with too much and new skincare; only opt for a simple skincare prep before makeup.
Skincare Mistakes To Avoid Before Winter Arrives
1. Clinging to Your Lightweight Summer Moisturiser
2. Over-Exfoliating Compromised Skin:
3. Hot showers feel great in brisk weather, but high heat literally melts away the natural oils holding your epidermal barrier together. Keep it lukewarm and apply your moisturiser within 60 seconds of stepping out to lock in hydration.
4. Ditching the Daily SPF
When Should You See A Dermatologist?
According to Dr Rinky Kapoor, dermatologist, Co- Founder and Director, The Esthetic Clinics, “ A person should see a dermatologist because topical skincare has its limitations. Concerns such as persistent pigmentation, acne scars, uneven texture, enlarged pores, fine lines, or loss of skin firmness.
FAQs
1. What are the essential steps for winter skincare?
The essential steps for winter skincare, according to dermatologists, include switching to a gentle, hydrating cleanser, applying a rich moisturiser, and continuing daily SPF.
2. How can I protect my skin from dryness during seasonal changes?
To protect your skin from dryness during seasonal changes, focus on strengthening your skin's natural barrier.
3. Why is my skin drier in winter, even with moisturiser?
Your skin may feel drier in winter, even with moisturiser, due to several factors, such as low humidity in the air and cold temperatures reducing natural oil production.